Magic Johnson vs. Kendrick Perkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kendrick Perkins and Magic Johnson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Magic Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Kendrick Perkins, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kendrick Perkins had his rookie season in 2003-04. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96
Kendrick Perkins 14 9 2003-04 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 36.3 18.0 2.2 5.6 7.7 7.3 2.4 0.5 4.0 2.8 6.5 12.3 .530 0.1 0.4 .226 4.9 6.0 .810
Kendrick Perkins 10 3.5 2.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.5 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 16 41.1 18.3 3.3 7.3 10.5 9.4 3.1 0.4 4.1 2.9 6.4 12.4 .518 0.1 0.5 .250 5.3 6.6 .802
Kendrick Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 37 37.1 21.6 2.7 5.9 8.6 8.6 3.4 0.7 3.9 2.7 8.4 15.9 .532 0.1 0.5 .176 4.6 6.1 .760
Kendrick Perkins 60 9.1 2.5 0.9 2.1 2.9 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.6 0.9 2.0 .471 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 3 42.3 17.0 2.7 11.0 13.7 7.0 2.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 6.3 16.3 .388 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.7 .650
Kendrick Perkins 6 4.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.2 0.7 0.8 .800 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .333

Season 3

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 78 38.3 18.6 3.2 6.4 9.6 9.5 2.7 0.4 3.7 2.9 7.1 13.3 .537 0.1 0.4 .207 4.2 5.6 .760
Kendrick Perkins 68 19.6 5.2 2.1 3.9 5.9 1.0 0.3 1.5 1.6 2.9 2.0 3.9 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 40.1 17.4 3.9 7.4 11.3 9.3 2.9 0.2 3.1 3.6 5.9 11.2 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.6 .828
Kendrick Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 36.8 16.8 2.7 5.9 8.6 10.5 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.5 6.5 11.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800
Kendrick Perkins 72 21.9 4.5 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.3 0.3 1.3 1.6 3.0 1.8 3.7 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 15 42.9 17.9 3.4 5.1 8.5 12.8 2.3 0.8 4.3 3.3 6.7 13.7 .485 0.0 0.7 .000 4.5 5.4 .840
Kendrick Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 67 38.3 17.6 1.5 5.9 7.3 13.1 2.2 0.7 4.6 2.5 6.6 11.6 .565 0.1 0.4 .207 4.3 5.3 .810
Kendrick Perkins 78 24.5 6.9 1.9 4.2 6.1 1.1 0.4 1.5 1.6 3.1 2.7 4.5 .615 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.3 .623
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 21 39.9 18.2 1.2 5.4 6.6 13.5 2.0 1.0 3.8 3.4 7.2 13.0 .551 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 4.8 .800
Kendrick Perkins 25 25.2 6.6 2.1 4.0 6.1 0.5 0.6 1.3 1.2 3.6 2.5 4.2 .585 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .678

Season 6

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 36.1 18.3 1.2 5.0 6.2 12.6 1.5 0.3 4.0 2.0 6.5 11.7 .561 0.1 0.5 .189 5.1 6.0 .843
Kendrick Perkins 76 29.6 8.5 2.7 5.5 8.1 1.3 0.3 2.0 2.2 3.3 3.6 6.3 .577 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 19 36.2 17.5 1.0 6.1 7.1 15.2 1.7 0.2 4.0 2.5 6.1 11.9 .513 0.1 0.4 .143 5.3 6.2 .847
Kendrick Perkins 14 36.6 11.9 3.6 7.9 11.6 1.4 0.4 2.6 2.4 3.6 5.2 9.1 .575 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.1 .667

Season 7

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1985-862009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 72 35.8 18.8 1.2 4.7 5.9 12.6 1.6 0.2 3.8 1.8 6.7 12.8 .526 0.1 0.6 .233 5.3 6.0 .871
Kendrick Perkins 78 27.6 10.1 2.0 5.6 7.6 1.0 0.3 1.7 2.1 2.8 4.0 6.7 .602 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.6 .582
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 38.6 21.6 1.5 5.6 7.1 15.1 1.9 0.1 3.2 3.1 7.9 14.6 .537 0.0 0.8 .000 5.9 7.6 .766
Kendrick Perkins 23 25.0 5.7 1.8 4.4 6.2 1.0 0.4 1.4 1.9 3.4 2.1 4.2 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.4 .600

Season 8

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1986-872010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 80 36.3 23.9 1.5 4.8 6.3 12.2 1.7 0.5 3.8 2.1 8.5 16.4 .522 0.1 0.5 .205 6.7 7.9 .848
Kendrick Perkins 29 25.6 6.0 2.1 5.9 8.0 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.9 3.1 2.3 4.5 .515 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.5 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 18 37.0 21.8 1.6 6.2 7.7 12.2 1.7 0.4 2.8 2.1 8.1 15.1 .539 0.1 0.6 .200 5.4 6.6 .831
Kendrick Perkins 17 28.2 4.5 2.2 3.9 6.1 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.4 1.7 3.8 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.9 .576

Season 9

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 72 36.6 19.6 1.2 5.0 6.2 11.9 1.6 0.2 3.7 2.0 6.8 13.8 .492 0.2 0.8 .196 5.8 6.8 .853
Kendrick Perkins 65 26.8 5.1 1.8 4.7 6.6 1.2 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.9 2.0 4.0 .489 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 24 40.2 19.9 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.6 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 7.0 13.7 .514 0.3 0.6 .500 5.5 6.5 .852
Kendrick Perkins 20 25.9 4.7 1.8 4.5 6.2 0.7 0.4 1.3 1.5 3.0 1.9 4.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800

Season 10

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 77 37.5 22.5 1.4 6.4 7.9 12.8 1.8 0.3 4.1 2.2 7.5 14.8 .509 0.8 2.4 .314 6.7 7.3 .911
Kendrick Perkins 78 25.1 4.2 1.4 4.6 6.0 1.4 0.6 1.1 1.4 2.9 1.8 4.0 .457 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .611
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 14 37.0 18.4 1.1 4.9 5.9 11.8 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.1 6.1 12.4 .489 0.7 2.5 .286 5.6 6.1 .907
Kendrick Perkins 11 19.1 2.2 1.4 2.4 3.7 0.6 0.7 0.5 2.1 3.5 0.9 3.5 .263 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 11

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 37.2 22.3 1.6 5.0 6.6 11.5 1.7 0.4 3.7 2.1 6.9 14.4 .480 1.3 3.5 .384 7.2 8.1 .890
Kendrick Perkins 62 19.5 3.4 1.3 3.6 4.9 1.1 0.4 0.5 1.5 2.9 1.4 3.1 .451 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .552
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 9 41.8 25.2 1.3 5.0 6.3 12.8 1.2 0.1 4.0 3.1 8.4 17.2 .490 0.6 2.8 .200 7.8 8.8 .886
Kendrick Perkins 19 20.2 3.2 1.7 3.6 5.4 0.7 0.2 0.3 1.3 3.4 1.3 2.4 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .800

Season 12

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1990-912014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 79 37.1 19.4 1.3 5.6 7.0 12.5 1.3 0.2 4.0 1.9 5.9 12.4 .477 1.0 3.2 .320 6.6 7.3 .906
Kendrick Perkins 68 16.9 3.6 1.3 3.4 4.7 0.8 0.2 0.6 1.4 2.4 1.5 3.3 .449 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 19 43.3 21.8 1.2 6.9 8.1 12.6 1.2 0.0 4.1 2.3 6.2 14.1 .440 1.1 3.7 .296 8.3 9.4 .882
Kendrick Perkins 8 4.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .600

Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 13

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season 1995-962015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 32 29.9 14.6 1.3 4.5 5.7 6.9 0.8 0.4 3.2 1.5 4.3 9.2 .466 0.7 1.8 .379 5.4 6.3 .856
Kendrick Perkins 37 14.6 2.5 0.7 2.8 3.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.1 1.7 1.1 2.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .440
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson 4 33.8 15.3 2.0 6.5 8.5 6.5 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.8 3.8 9.8 .385 0.8 2.3 .333 7.0 8.3 .848
Kendrick Perkins ------- --- ----------

Note: Kendrick Perkins didn't play in 2016-17.

Season 14

Magic Johnson Kendrick Perkins
Season -2017-18
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kendrick Perkins 1 15.0 3.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kendrick Perkins ------- --- ----------